After the Park East Freeway was razed to free
up property for development, the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County came into
possession of separate parcels of land on the site.
However, only the land owned by the city has been sold. Although some developers had shown interest in the past in the county-owned parcels—and still show interest—the county hasn’t been able to close a deal on any of its land.
The candidates for Milwaukee County executive took on this issue in last week’s debate at Marquette University. The candidates are Chris Abele, Ieshuh Griffin, Acting Milwaukee County Executive Lee Holloway, state Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) and former state Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa).
(Full disclosure: The Shepherd Express and the nonprofit corporation that the Shepherd had created to operate the former Milwaukee International Film Festival are suing Abele, Milwaukee Film Inc. and two of its employees for misappropriation of confidential information, misappropriation of good will, unjust enrichment, computer crimes, theft and damages arising from conspiracy to injure businesses. For a complete copy of the complaint filed in the Milwaukee County courts, go to milwaukeefilmfest.info.)
Here are the candidates’ responses:
Abele: I think if we let the fact that we don’t have potential development that is a 100% home run prevent us from doing anything, we’re going to sit empty for a really long time. I think the very first thing that I do is understand—because there have been opportunities for us to do development—is to understand who we’re competing with, and what exactly are the benchmarks, what is being offered and what is making this a yes for businesses in other cities and a no here? And how do we change that? And how do we change it quickly? And, again, I don’t think it’s sufficient merely to say, “Hey, we’re going to create conditions” and just wait for an opportunity to stroll by. I think we have to create the conditions. We have to target companies. We have to go out and market [it]. And if the county executive and the mayor go together on the same trip, it sends an awfully big message.
Griffin: A simple answer is because of mismanagement. There is over $300 million of capital assets that are just sitting there because of mismanagement and in need of infrastructure repair. I think that to solve the problem you have to look at the root of the problem, going back to why the former county executive and the current acting county executive have yet to do anything about it. You have to also look at the budget and the fiscal policies and what have you to correct the problems that are occurring. Unfortunately I’m not sitting in the seat right now that the acting county executive is sitting in, so I don’t know the numbers. But I will personally go in and actually assess the situation. But due to mismanagement we have that and a number of structures that are just sitting.
Holloway: As recently as Wednesday I met with the MSOE president and I am supporting them putting in a parking lot and soccer field there, which would create a lot of economic [activity]. It would allow 500 cars to be parked. That would stimulate other businesses to move there. I think it’s a fine opportunity to start.
You have to look at it from the perspective of the economy. That’s why some people were initially against the MSOE deal, because they thought that it was not business-oriented enough. But I think it is and I think it will stimulate the economy. And that’s all that we have on the table, because we have not had anyone giving us any interest that they have any plans.
No one has brought things to us. Some of the deals that we did failed. Some of the people who indicated that they wanted to do business, they pulled away when the economy soured. There were a number of hotels and apartment complexes that we brought to the table, but what happened was the economy. They pulled out.
Sullivan: I think you cannot divorce this from the leadership relationship that goes on within the Milwaukee County structure. When you have this loggerheads—either between county leadership under [Scott] Walker or city leadership under [Tom] Barrett or between the county executive’s office and the county board—it was because, for ideological reasons, things were not getting done. One thing that I can say to Scott Walker’s credit is that he came in eight years ago as a change agent. Nonetheless, you can only go so far as the change agent, as though you’re going to come in and push things around and shake things up. I think what we need now is leadership that’s going to work cooperatively, leadership that has that relationship and ability to work with a legislative body—the legislative bodies in Madison and the county board here and the city council—and the experience at the state level and at the local level in order to get the job done.
Stone: That was an area that I was involved in when we took down the Park East… I supported that—because I wanted to see those assets [developed]. They were being way underutilized and we needed to work together to get to a solution. We got it done. We got the freeway cleared. … It’s not about credit. It’s about having policies that actually allow economics to function. What we’ve done and what we’ve seen in the county, we’ve piled on requirements above and beyond what the market requires or will allow. So the property sits there, unused, underutilized, wasting an opportunity for our taxpayers and the people who want jobs and to work in this community. I will work with anybody. But you can’t continue to create regulations that don’t allow for the development or investment in this community.
However, only the land owned by the city has been sold. Although some developers had shown interest in the past in the county-owned parcels—and still show interest—the county hasn’t been able to close a deal on any of its land.
The candidates for Milwaukee County executive took on this issue in last week’s debate at Marquette University. The candidates are Chris Abele, Ieshuh Griffin, Acting Milwaukee County Executive Lee Holloway, state Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greendale) and former state Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa).
(Full disclosure: The Shepherd Express and the nonprofit corporation that the Shepherd had created to operate the former Milwaukee International Film Festival are suing Abele, Milwaukee Film Inc. and two of its employees for misappropriation of confidential information, misappropriation of good will, unjust enrichment, computer crimes, theft and damages arising from conspiracy to injure businesses. For a complete copy of the complaint filed in the Milwaukee County courts, go to milwaukeefilmfest.info.)
Here are the candidates’ responses:
Abele: I think if we let the fact that we don’t have potential development that is a 100% home run prevent us from doing anything, we’re going to sit empty for a really long time. I think the very first thing that I do is understand—because there have been opportunities for us to do development—is to understand who we’re competing with, and what exactly are the benchmarks, what is being offered and what is making this a yes for businesses in other cities and a no here? And how do we change that? And how do we change it quickly? And, again, I don’t think it’s sufficient merely to say, “Hey, we’re going to create conditions” and just wait for an opportunity to stroll by. I think we have to create the conditions. We have to target companies. We have to go out and market [it]. And if the county executive and the mayor go together on the same trip, it sends an awfully big message.
Griffin: A simple answer is because of mismanagement. There is over $300 million of capital assets that are just sitting there because of mismanagement and in need of infrastructure repair. I think that to solve the problem you have to look at the root of the problem, going back to why the former county executive and the current acting county executive have yet to do anything about it. You have to also look at the budget and the fiscal policies and what have you to correct the problems that are occurring. Unfortunately I’m not sitting in the seat right now that the acting county executive is sitting in, so I don’t know the numbers. But I will personally go in and actually assess the situation. But due to mismanagement we have that and a number of structures that are just sitting.
Holloway: As recently as Wednesday I met with the MSOE president and I am supporting them putting in a parking lot and soccer field there, which would create a lot of economic [activity]. It would allow 500 cars to be parked. That would stimulate other businesses to move there. I think it’s a fine opportunity to start.
You have to look at it from the perspective of the economy. That’s why some people were initially against the MSOE deal, because they thought that it was not business-oriented enough. But I think it is and I think it will stimulate the economy. And that’s all that we have on the table, because we have not had anyone giving us any interest that they have any plans.
No one has brought things to us. Some of the deals that we did failed. Some of the people who indicated that they wanted to do business, they pulled away when the economy soured. There were a number of hotels and apartment complexes that we brought to the table, but what happened was the economy. They pulled out.
Sullivan: I think you cannot divorce this from the leadership relationship that goes on within the Milwaukee County structure. When you have this loggerheads—either between county leadership under [Scott] Walker or city leadership under [Tom] Barrett or between the county executive’s office and the county board—it was because, for ideological reasons, things were not getting done. One thing that I can say to Scott Walker’s credit is that he came in eight years ago as a change agent. Nonetheless, you can only go so far as the change agent, as though you’re going to come in and push things around and shake things up. I think what we need now is leadership that’s going to work cooperatively, leadership that has that relationship and ability to work with a legislative body—the legislative bodies in Madison and the county board here and the city council—and the experience at the state level and at the local level in order to get the job done.
Stone: That was an area that I was involved in when we took down the Park East… I supported that—because I wanted to see those assets [developed]. They were being way underutilized and we needed to work together to get to a solution. We got it done. We got the freeway cleared. … It’s not about credit. It’s about having policies that actually allow economics to function. What we’ve done and what we’ve seen in the county, we’ve piled on requirements above and beyond what the market requires or will allow. So the property sits there, unused, underutilized, wasting an opportunity for our taxpayers and the people who want jobs and to work in this community. I will work with anybody. But you can’t continue to create regulations that don’t allow for the development or investment in this community.
*/?>
Are you kidding? All she said is she'll look into it. Mr. Stone has said it all. Developers aren't interested in it because of stupid restrictions placed on it by the county board. Lift idiotic restrictions and you'll have lots of interest. I downloaded the bid info years ago and it was ridiculous.
Lift the stupid restrictions.
She gave the right answer. Mismanagement.
All of them seem to have no clue. All you have to do is auction off the properties to the highest bidder, rubber stamp anything the developers want to do, and put no restrictions on the developments. All the cry babies want to do is talk about jobs, living wages, minority hiring, and other nonsese. Those are job killing requirements that eat into profits. Goverment officials need to sit back, shut up, and let private industry get it down right.
I am no longer a Milwaukee County resident, so why should I even care when it is presented as a County Executive campaign issue?
I am not versed in zoning rules or regulations, like most people affected, so I have little opinion on the regulations issue. I suspect that there are many anti-government forces that simply want rules abandoned, just on that principle alone, doesn't matter if the rules are good, bad, or stifling.
What I see is the value issue, mixed with this jobless economic recovery. Ms. Griffin mentioned a $300M figure, I'm not sure if that was all Park East or not. Like all the banks and mortgage bond inverstors owning homes that dropped to half it's value, is it smart to hang onto it until it reaches a good value again, or dump it and take the write-off (let some other investor reap any possible future gain).
I was listening to a Sunday morning invetment show some months ago, and the guest said "You make your money in a Bear market". I took that to mean you buy cheap from someone desperate for cash relief, then sell high when the market turns Bullish again.
So the question is, can the anti-government forces succeed in forcing a low-cost sale for quick cash, and lack of restrictions so that the private buyer can make a killing unrestricted. Restrictions mean this investors killing can't be made until the future buyer's intent aligns with the restrictions, delaying that sale.
Those who want to see Milwaukee fail want to see somebody other than Milwaukee reaping the value, or may even want to buy it to develop it in a way that will prevent Milwaukee from becoming successful, a blocking move.
That's right WaukeshaGuy- you jetted off to the suburbs- you MUST be a racist. Your assertion that anything done to promote private development results in "quick cash" or a private entity "making a killing" is very illustrative. Don't we want private entities that choose to locate in Milwaukee to "make a killing?" Once again, I will remind everyone- without business, there are no income taxes, no corporate income taxes, no property taxes and no sales taxes. Thus, there is nothing to fund welfare, social security, medicare and medicaid, green space initiatives, ethanol, green energy "investment" or any other form of government spending.
Where is the disconnect in your thinking? Do you own mutual funds? If yes, then you are the beneficiary of "corporate welfare". In this case, however, we're just talking about allowing a company to set up shop on the moonscape we've created and at least have the chance to be successful.
You would dictate failure from the beginning. Forcing the future buyer's intent to align with the restrictions put on development of this land has failed miserably. At least give another method a chance- your method hasn't worked.